Gov. Chris Christie's timely U-turn on tuition equity: Editorial

New Jersey has more to gain by educating these young people than it does by punishing them.

Gov Chris Christie and Sen Barbara Buono debate at Montclair State University for the second and final time before the gubernatorial election next month. John Munson/The Star-Ledger

Gov. Chris Christie wants us to believe he hasn’t changed his mind on tuition equality for the children of undocumented immigrants. But it’s hard to see his new pro-DREAM Act positioning as anything but an election year flip-flop.

Christie has said more than once that tax dollars shouldn’t be spent to help students who were brought into the country illegally. In 2011, he promised to veto any bill that reached his desk.

But last weekend, in a speech to the Latino Leadership Alliance, Christie reversed course: "We need to get to work in the state Legislature on things like making sure that there’s tuition equality for everybody in New Jersey," he said. A U-turn, yes, but a welcome surprise.

Credit Christie for evolving on this political hot potato, particularly as he reinforces his conservative credentials on other issues, including gay marriage, in preparation for an expected run in the 2016 Republican presidential primaries.

Cynics will say Christie tapped tuition to pander to Latinos. That’s slightly unfair. He’s been historically moderate on immigration, such as when he refused to label undocumented immigrants "criminals." But it’s his first sign of support for in-state tuition.

New Jersey’s failure on tuition equality isn’t Christie’s alone. The Democrat-led Legislature shelved this issue during the summer over worries it might cost them seats in next month’s election.

The state’s tuition equality bill would let students who live in the country illegally — most arrived as young children — attend state universities at in-state rates. At Rutgers, that’s a $52,000 savings over four years.

Opponents of the legislation, including the old Chris Christie, cite cost. But since out-of-state tuition keeps most DREAMers from attending college at all, the projected monetary loss is minimal. Tuition equality will add more students to each university’s admissions mix, but doesn’t require more classrooms or professors.

New Jersey educates all children — even immigrants’ kids — at a K-12 cost of $200,000 or more per child. But unfairly high tuition can put college out of reach, and those left behind are more likely to rely on the government for food, health care and other public assistance.

New Jersey has more to gain by educating these young people than it does by punishing them. Don’t look this gift horse in the mouth: Christie’s change of heart is welcome. It’s up to the Legislature to take advantage.